Captains Triumph Over Saltdogs 9-7 for Opening Day Win

Published on May 11, 2011 under American Association (AA)
Shreveport-Bossier Captains News Release


SHREVEPORT, LA.--The last time the Shreveport-Bossier Captains took the field together it was to claim the 2010 American Association Championship in Sioux Falls last September. They picked up the 2011 regular season right where they left off with a 9-7 victory over the Lincoln Saltdogs Wednesday morning at Fair Grounds Field.

The Captains started off their championship repeat campaign with a nine-run, 16-hit offensive onslaught, led by no. 9 hitter, second baseman Jeff Hulett, who went 3-4 with 3 RBIs. Six Captains players registered two or more hits and the team as a whole slugged six doubles, including shortstop Brian Frichter who had two doubles and two RBIs.

Lincoln lead-off man Blake Gailen scored to get the Saltdogs on the board first in the top of the first inning, but the Captains regained the lead and never relinquished it, scoring twice in the bottom of the first as Joey Gathright scored on an error and Bryan Sabatella knocked in Robert Perry with an RBI single for the go-ahead run. Shreveport-Bossier would add two more in the second and third innings. Hulett knocked in two with an RBI single in the second and shortstop Brian Frichter's two-run double off Saltdogs pitcher Lindsay Gulin in the third made it a 6-1 game.

The Captains lead 8-2 going into the seventh but the Saltdogs didn't go quietly. After starter Richard Salazar (1-0) was relieved by Ben Shivers, to start the inning, Lincoln third baseman Curt Smith led off with a double, followed by a Kevin Rios single and a walk to Joseph Ramos. Blake Gailen singled home Smith with the inning's first run and Gavin Dickey's double play ground out scored Rios to make it 8-4. Following a walk to Phil Hawke, Shivers was relieved by Justin Young. Young's first offering to Saltdogs right fielder Jon Nelson was clocked over the left field wall for a three-run homer to make it a one-run game.

However, Young would retire four of the next five batters he faced and the Captains would add an insurance run in the last of the eighth when Gathright scored on an error by Lincoln second baseman Ramos.

Dan Griffin pitched a perfect ninth to preserve the Captains victory and pick up his first save of the year.

Salazar picked up the win, throwing six innings of five hit ball, allowing two runs and three walks. He struck out seven. The Captains tagged Saltdogs starter Gulin for eight hits and six runs (four of them earned) in four innings.

The Captains and Saltdogs are back in action at 7:05 Thursday, May 12 for Opening Night presented by Fox 33. The Captains will receive their 2010 championship rings prior to the game. It's also MetroPCS Magnetic Schedules giveaway, Budweiser Shirt Off Our Back Night and 99X Thirsty Thursday.

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American Association Stories from May 11, 2011


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